Monday, January 26, 2015

Thank you to all of you who read my first blog post and to those who left comments!

Every Monday, Jessica at Life Under Quilts hosts a Monday Morning Star Count for anyone to share their progress on their current English paper piecing projects.

This is the first EPP project that I've ever done. I've always loved things like cross stitch and embroidery. And I tried getting some neighbors together last year to start English paper piecing, sort of like a sewing circle, but no one was interested. So I started just sewing hexagons together on my own, in my spare time, and now it's almost a complete table runner. My mom loves the rainbow colors, and this is going to cover her Easter table. I've got 7 more rows to complete, each with 7 hexagons. So hopefully it won't take me too much longer to complete.

Friday, January 23, 2015

A few years ago someone suggested that I start a blog as a way to document my hobbies. It was something I thought about but always put on the back burner and figured I'd do it when I got around to it. Life is busy, and blogging seemed like another chore to add to an already long to-do list.

And today feels like a good day to start. Why? Today is my grandparents' wedding anniversary! They would be married 69 years! They were two of the most important people in my life while I was growing up. My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was six years old, she turned me on to cross stitch when I was eight, and she passed down my aunt's sewing machine to me. We spent time in the kitchen cooking, baking, and making memories. And my grandpa was always there encouraging me to be creative.

So here goes....

My daughters and I found a Harry Potter Bookcase Quilt Along project that we are eager to start. Jennifer Ofenstein is the designer of The Project of Doom quilt along at Fandom In Stitches. All of the blocks are foundation paper pieced. Since I don't have a lot of experience with foundation paper piecing, I decided to try a simpler project. I used Jennifer Ofenstein's Waiting For Rain pattern. And I loved it so much, I made two! I didn't use traditional colors, and my girls call them "My Wonderland Trees". Initially I had intended to give one of them away as a mug rug or small wall hanging. But, I like them both and I can't decide which one.

And here is my 1st block of the Harry Potter Bookcase quilt. I still need to hand embroider the book titles.

Since my daughters both want to make their own Harry Potter quilt, I gave them both a simpler foundation paper pieced block to try. I found this at Quilt Art Designs. My fourteen year old daughter made this one, and I think she's going to turn it into a large pincushion or a small pillow. I'm so proud of her!

And my eleven year old daughter is still busy picking out "just the right fabric."

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I'm going to try and link up to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday!